The Maine Public Broadcasting Network announced the formation of an information partnership with the Maine STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Resource Bank on Jan. 22. The resource bank is developed and maintained by The Reach Center, a project of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, and serves as a hub of science, technology, engineering and mathematics resources for the state of Maine.

Links to the STEM Resource Bank can be found on mpbn.net and will complement the existing PBS LearningMedia resource as a centralized location for Maine educators, parents and students to access valuable educational tools and activity options.

MPBN plans to have a presence at select STEM events in 2015 and to help raise up general awareness of the STEM Resource Bank.

“We are excited to contribute to the promotion of science and mathematics education in the state of Maine through our partnership with the STEM Resource Bank,” MPBN President and CEO Mark Vogelzang said. “It’s an important way that MPBN can help connect Maine’s citizens with the abundant educational resources available in the state.”

Dr. Jan Mokros, co-director of MMSA's Reach Center project, noted the numerous resources Maine has outside of school resources that parents and students are either unaware of, or hear about in an untimely manner. These include 4-H Clubs with a focus on ecology, farmer's markets, robotics competitions, events at nature centers and science fairs.

“The Maine STEM Resource Bank is a way to share these opportunities in one place, and connecting with MPBN will help spread the word about STEM events in Maine,” Dr. Mokros said. “Through this collaboration between MMSA's Reach Center, Maine residents can submit items to both the STEM Resource Bank and MPBN's community calendar, and MPBN's link connects more Mainers with this information at the right time.”